CUAL Repository (Connacht Ulster Alliance Libraries)
Not a member yet
852 research outputs found
Sort by
Fingerprint watermarking using svd and dwt based steganography to enhance security
Full text linkIdentification of persons by way of biometric features has evolved significantly over the\ud
years. During this time, biometric recognition has received much attention due to its need\ud
for security. Amongst the many existing biometrics, fingerprints are considered to be one\ud
of the most practical ones. Techniques such as watermarking and steganography have\ud
been used in attempt to improve security of biometric data.\ud
Watermarking is the process of embedding information into a carrier file for the protection\ud
of ownership/copyright of music, video or image files, whilst steganography is the art of\ud
hiding information.\ud
This paper presents, a hybrid steganographic watermarking algorithm based on Discrete\ud
Wavelet Transform (DWT) and Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) transforms in order to\ud
enhance the security of digital fingerprint images. A facial watermark is embedded into\ud
fingerprint image using a method of singular value replacement. First, the DWT is used to\ud
decompose the fingerprint image from the spatial domain to the frequency domain and then\ud
the facial watermark is embedded in singular values (SV’s) obtained by application of SVD.\ud
In addition, the original fingerprint image is not required to extract the watermark.\ud
Experimental results provided demonstrate the methods robustness to image degradation and\ud
common signal processing attacks, such as histogram and filtering, noise addition, JPEG and\ud
JPEG2000 compression with various levels of quality
'Joannes Clericus': the life and work of the Revd John Rooney
Full text linkA rare example of a painting from the Famine period, signed and dated in old Gaelic lettering: 'Sean 0 Ruanadh Sagart 1847',' was donated in February 1998 to the Department of Folklore of the National University of Ireland, Dublin by the late Mr Brian Foley of Athenry, county Galway. Research into the life and work of Father John Rooney (c.1809-50) has revealed that in a relatively short period of activity as an artist he produced a number of works and was a regular exhibitor at the Royal Hibernian Academy. In one of Father Rooney's obituaries, it is mentioned that he was a native of the city of Galway.2 Unfortunately, no record of his birth date can be found in parish records. Fr Martin Coen's article on Galway students in Maynooth College' shows that Rooney matriculated on 4 September 1826, while Patrick T Hamell reports that he attended the humanities class in Maynooth and was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in 1833.\ud
Assuming that he was at the average age of 24 at ordination, this would date his birth to c. 1809. After ordination, Rooney returned to work on the mission in his native Galway in the parishes of Oranmore and Moycullen. Rooney's route to becoming a painter was an unusual one. As a result of an illness early in his career as a curate, he had a heart condition for the rest of his life. However, this was not the only blow to his health that he was to suffer. On 19 June 1839, he was injured in a shooting accident which was reported in the Galway dvertiser, 22 June 1839: Melancholy Accident. Rev. Rooney who had for some time previous been in a delicate state of health, accompanied the Messrs. Blake of Frenchfort, on a shooting party in the Bay, one of the fowling pieces being on a level with the unfortunate gentleman's chest discharged, the contents grazing his breast, and entering his right arm, completely shattering it
Combining self-regulation and competence-based guidance to personalise the learning experience in moodle
Full text linkAdaptive learning systems aim to address a learner’s specific needs, considering factors such as prior knowledge, learning efficiency, learning goals and motivation. Especially in distance education, often directed to adult learners with full-time jobs, it is very important to provide this necessary level of assistance to counteract high dropout rates. This paper describes an approach on how to support adult learners through the adoption of personalisation and guidance in Moodle. The implementation is based on the combination of two pedagogical approaches, competence-based learning and self-regulated learning (SRL). The three-phases approach of SRL (i.e. planning, learning, and reflecting) was used to roughly frame the design of the learning flow, where the individual phases are supported by competence-based guidance and reflection. In this way Moodle is extended from a teacher and course management to a learner-centric system. This work has been implemented and evaluated in the course of a European project that targets vocational training of heat pump installers
Modelling abundance hotspots for data-poor Irish sea rays
Full text linkSkates and rays represent one of the most vulnerable components of fish communities in temperate demersal fisheries such as the Irish Sea. They also tend to be data poor in comparison to commercially exploited teleost fish. Spatial management has been suggested as an important tool to protect these species, but requires an understanding of the abundance distribution, and the relationship the abundance distribution has with the environment at both adult and juvenile life history stages. Here we modelled bottom trawl survey data using delta log-normal boosted regression trees on to derive rays’ spatial abundance, and environmental links. The modelling approach allowed the development of high resolution predictive maps of abundance of four skate and ray species targeted by fishing activity: thornback, spotted, cuckoo and blonde rays. The distributions of these species were driven by a general preference for sand and coarser substrates as well as higher salinities, temperatures and currents speeds. Spatial comparisons between abundance distributions and locations of skate and ray commercial landings indicated that the main hotspots for the investigated species are outside of the main commercial fishing areas and overlap with potential MPAs proposed for wider ecosystem protection. The method offers a useful tool for selecting potential MPA’s to assist the management and conservation of data-poor species
iNKT-cells and their ligands: focus on multiple sclerosis
Full text linkThe cells of the immune system are broadly divided into those that belong to the innate arm of immunity and those that belong to the adaptive immune system(1) The innate immune cells include macrophages, dendritic cells and neutrophils which express pattern-recognition receptors such as the toll-like receptors, encoded within the germ-line and which are activated by conserved patterns or PAMPs on microorganisms. On the adaptive side of immunity, T and B cells are more diverse expressing receptors encoded by germ-line rearrangement and VDJ recombination which are specifically activated by antigens derived from pathogens
Engaging with industry in the classroom through the use of online technology
Full text linkA long established method of learning in Irish third level education has been the collaboration\ud
of colleges with Industry in the form of work placement. Workplaces provide a diversity of\ud
learning that is contextualised, socialised and not readily available in traditional learning\ud
contexts (Sheridan & Linehan, 2013). Because the workplace is the context of practice,\ud
learning in the workplace is considered a form of authentic learning informed by real contexts,\ud
activities, and best practice (Franz, 2008). The placement of students is often a difficult\ud
process and not always practical with large class sizes. Therefore, it is necessary to\ud
reimagine how we engage with industry and foster relationships within the context of an\ud
online environment. We describe (1) a workshop designed to provide an authentic learning\ud
experience for large undergraduate classes, and (2) evaluation of students learning in relation\ud
to Level 8 standards (QQI, 2014): Knowledge, Know How and Competence. The workshop is\ud
delivered using a blend of online and traditional classroom environments. The appeal of the\ud
workshop is in fostering relationships with industrial partners. Students are, randomly\ud
assigned to groups and tasked with addressing a complex workplace case scenario.\ud
Scenarios are provided by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) and represent\ud
real situations encountered in the regulation of medicines. In a limited timeframe, students\ud
must research the problem, identify a course of action and present findings to the HPRA via\ud
online technology. HPRA representatives give immediate feedback on each case. Learning\ud
is assessed in relation to Level 8 standards using a survey tool. Data indicates that\ud
participants develop insight into their own professional competencies in relation to teamwork\ud
& communication, specialised knowledge of the industry and problem solving skills. Key to\ud
the success of the workshop is framing the student presentations in a professional context
Considering place and problem solving in the virtual world
Full text linkThis paper examines the interplay between the person and their environment throughout the problem solving process. Although there are endless opportunities to electronically access information and knowledge the concern is that, rather than strengthening, building upon and enhancing an individual’s knowledge, these systems do not support and allow for further losses of previously acquired knowledge. While there are a myriad of contributing factors that impact knowledge capture and transfer, this paper is concerned primarily with tacit knowledge and the role of the surrounding environment during the problem solving process. Of core concern is the role of the location in tacit knowledge acquisition and retrieval and whether access to prior situations in a tacit form allows for a richer access to tacit knowledge
To bond and bridge: The expression of collaboration and social capital in a developed world ecotourism destination
Full text linkThis paper explores social capital in the context of a social network designed to promote ecotourism among local businesses in an area known as the Greenbox in northwest Ireland. The Greenbox was developed as an ecotourism destination, situated in a geographically and economically marginal rural area on the northwest border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. The initiative, which existed from 2003-2007, was funded primarily from European Union sources and administered by a management board consisting of representatives of local authorities, national tourism bodies, regional and rural development groups, and ecotourism providers. An ecotourism provider network was also established. The International Ecotourism Society definition of ecotourism was adopted and modified slightly for use by the project and the EU Flower was selected as a method of certification. Coleman (1988) defines social capital as a feature of social structure that exists in relationships, and is mobilised by individuals in their actions, as a method of accessing resources. The paper recognises what Putnam (2003) discusses as ‘bonding’ and ‘bridging’ social capital and how communication and involvement in groups can have positive implications for individuals. Bonding social capital relates to trust between homogeneous groups including the support of collective aims. Bridging social capital relates to external connections to groups or individuals (Putnam 2000). Social capital has been used in a variety of ways to explore development options (McGehee et al 2010). The focus in tourism research has, at times, been placed excessively on economic benefits and the need for social relations is somewhat undermined (Macbeth et al 2004). However, social capital has an important role in tourism. It is easier to be productive and achieve aims when bonding social capital exists. Vertical associations and bridging also have important roles to play in this context (Macbeth et al 2004). Social capital has been used as a construct to understand ecotourism, in a developing world context (Jones 2005). The research followed a qualitative approach to data collection and analysis. Representatives of support organisations (21) and ecotourism providers (37) were selected purposively for face-to-face, semi-structured interviews of approximately 1.5 hours in duration. All of the interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim and entered into a database. Analysis was conducted following thematic principles (Bryman 2004). Textual statements were analysed qualitatively using an iterative approach in order to identify key themes and sub-themes. In a developed world context, the Greenbox network and its members exhibited levels of bonding and bridging social capital in both the management and provider networks. Examples illustrate how the principles of ecotourism and EU Flower certification are combined with expressions of bonding and bridging social capital, to create experiences that draw on local natural and cultural resources in benign ways. Findings highlight that provider’s demonstrated active bonding social capital but exhibited limited evidence of collaborative bridging, in terms of marketing and promoting ecotourism. Further evolution of bonding and bridging social capital is evident in a new network The Greenbook, established in 2011 by former provider members of the Greenbox
Pd loaded TiO2 nanotubes for the effective catalytic reduction of p-Nitrophenol
Full text linkTitania nanotubes decorated with Pd nanoparticles\ud
were synthesised by a hydrothermal method. The\ud
increased amounts of Pd concentration is found to facilitate\ud
the anatase to rutile crystalline phase transformation as\ud
well as in collapse of the morphology as revealed by X-ray\ud
diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, scanning and transmission\ud
electron microscopy. The presence of metallic as well\ud
as the oxidized form (PdO2) of surface metal ions was\ud
characterized by using XPS. The catalytic activity of the Pd\ud
loaded titania nanotubes has been demonstrated by studying\ud
the reduction of p-nitrophenol to p-aminophenol. The\ud
1.0 mol% Pd loaded titania nanotubes has been found to\ud
exhibit optimum catalytic activity (rate constant of\ud
0.7072 min−1) while those with higher amounts of Pd\ud
loading showed lower catalytic activity. It is observed that\ud
retention of tubular morphology and higher anatase content\ud
play significant roles in their catalytic activity